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Conductor Gerardo Edelstein led a rehearsal of the modern classic MASS, Leonard Bernstein's exploration of faith, on March 26 at the Playhouse on Penn State's University Park campus. Show dates are April 5 and April 6 at Eisenhower Auditorium. Call 1-800-ARTS-TIX for more information.

Image: Patrick Mansell

Bernstein's 'Mass' centerpiece of College of Arts and Architecture anniversary

Performances, a collaborative venture among Penn State’s School of Music, School of Theatre and Center for the Performing Arts, are set for April 5 and 6.

March 27, 2013

Bernstein's 'Mass' centerpiece of College of Arts and Architecture anniversary

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- "Mass" -- a theater piece for singers, players and dancers that’s a collaborative venture among Penn State’s School of Music, School of Theatre and Center for the Performing Arts -- comes to Eisenhower Auditorium for performances at 7:30 p.m. April 5 and 2 p.m. April 6. The event is part of the College of Arts and Architecture's celebration of its 50th anniversary.

A journey of faith and what that means to people, "Mass" is sometimes humorous, occasionally bawdy and at times profoundly moving. Bernstein’s masterpiece, based on the Roman Catholic liturgy, includes passages sung in Latin with additional texts in English by Bernstein, Broadway composer Stephen Schwartz and pop songwriter Paul Simon. The work, scored for orchestra, marching and rock bands, actors and dancers also features rock, blues, Broadway and classical music.

The french horn section of Penn State's Philharmonic Orchestra rehearsed on March 26 for Leonard Bernstein MASS performances slated for April 5 and April 6 in Eisenhower Auditorium on the University Park campus. MASS, Bernstein's provocative exploration of faith, includes music from composer Stephen Schwartz and songwriter Paul Simon. Call 1-800-ARTS-TIX for ticket information. Go to http://theatre.psu.edu/performances/shows/mass for more information about the production.

Conductor Gerardo Edelstein led a rehearsal of the modern classic MASS, Leonard Bernstein's exploration of faith, on March 26 at the Playhouse on Penn State's University Park campus. Show dates are April 5 and April 6 at Eisenhower Auditorium. Call 1-800-ARTS-TIX for more information.

The stage at the Playhouse on Penn State's University Park campus was filled to capacity with musicians and singers during rehearsal for Leonard Bernstein MASS on March 26. The collaborative production includes Penn State's Philharmonic Orchestra, Concert Choir, Essence of Joy, singers and dancers from Penn State's schools of Music and Theatre and a community children's choir. Show dates are April 5 and April 6 at Eisenhower Auditorium.

Rehearsals for MASS, Leonard Bernstein's masterpiece based on the Roman Catholic liturgy, are continuing at the Playhouse on Penn State's University Park campus leading to show dates of April 5 and April 6 at Eisenhower Auditorium. The work was originally commissioned by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and debuted at the opening of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in 1971. Call 1-800-ARTS-TIX for ticket information.

Kevin Eppinger, a freshman at Penn State studying percussion performance in the School of Music, played the glockenspiel during rehearsal for MASS, the Leonard Bernstein masterpiece based on the Roman Catholic liturgy. Show dates are April 5 and April 6 at Eisenhower Auditorium on Penn State's University Park campus. Call 1-800-ARTS-TIX or go to http://theatre.psu.edu/performances/shows/mass for more information.

Alex Burdette, a sophomore music performance major at Penn State, performed with the flute section of the Penn State Philharmonic Orchestra during rehearsal for MASS, Leonard Bernstein's masterpiece based on the Roman Catholic liturgy. The production is directed by Ted Christopher and conducted by Geraldo Edelstein. Performances are scheduled for April 5 and April 6 in Eisenhower Auditorium. Go to http://theatre.psu.edu/performances/shows/mass for more information.

Matthew Weaver, a senior at Penn State majoring in music education, performed with the Penn State Philharmonic Orchestra during rehearsal for Leonard Bernstein Mass on March 26. The production is a collaborative effort of Penn State's College of Arts and Architecture along with The Center for Performing Arts, Penn State's School of Music and Penn State's School of Theatre. Show dates are April 5 and April 6 at Eisenhower Auditorium. Call 1-800-ARTS-TIX for more information.

Conductor Gerardo Edelstein, right, led a rehearsal of the modern classic MASS, Leonard Bernstein's exploration of faith. The production is a collaborative effort of Penn State's College of Arts and Architecture along with The Center for Performing Arts, Penn State's School of Music and Penn State's School of Theatre. Show dates are April 5 and April 6 at Eisenhower Auditorium. Call 1-800-ARTS-TIX for more information.

Tickets for Mass are $37 for an adult, $10 for a University Park student and $18 for a person 18 and younger. Tickets are available by phone at 814-863-0255 or 800-ARTS-TIX. Tickets are also available at four State College locations: Eisenhower Auditorium (8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays), Penn State Downtown Theatre Center (9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays, HUB-Robeson Center Information Desk (11 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays when Penn State classes are in session) and Bryce Jordan Center (10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays. A grant from the University Park Allocation Committee makes Penn State student prices possible.

The price of each adult ticket to "Mass" includes a $5 donation to the College of Arts and Architecture Alumni Society Scholarship Endowment.

The production includes Penn State’s Philharmonic Orchestra, Concert Choir, Essence of Joy, singers and dancers from the schools of Music and Theatre and a community children’s choir.Jim Hogan, a bachelor of fine arts major in the School of Theatre, plays the Celebrant, an integral role in "Mass." Hogan was a cast member in the 2011 Center for the Performing Arts presentation of the touring Broadway musical "Spring Awakening."

Commissioned by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, "Mass" debuted at the opening of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., in 1971.

Visit aanda50.psu.edu for more on the anniversary celebration and the history of the College of Arts and Architecture.